15 July 2021
The annual Combined Diversity Statistics Report, published for the first time in September 2020, pulls together in-depth annual data from the legal professions and the judiciary, allowing better analysis and insight into how to improve diversity.
Today the Judicial Diversity Forum (JDF), which is chaired by the JAC, has published combined statistics which report on diversity in the judiciary as of March 2021. The JDF also released an accompanying statement – you can read it here to find out more about the findings of the report.
Bringing together this in-depth data in one place enables the JDF to better understand the challenges of increasing diversity in the judiciary and take a collective approach to making improvements at all levels. In this year’s report there are additional chapters providing a more detailed analysis of ethnicity and the intersection of diversity characteristics, covering the legal professions, judicial appointments and the judiciary. In autumn 2021 the JDF will publish an action plan designed to speed up the pace of change and an update on initiatives launched after the publication of the first report last year. The 2020 action plan is available here.
The Judicial Diversity Forum brings together organisations from across the legal sector, working in partnership to be both thought and action leaders in the area of judicial diversity. The JDF is made up of members from the JAC, the Ministry of Justice, the Judiciary, The Bar Council, The Law Society, Chartered Institute of Legal Executives and the Legal Services Board. You can find out more about the JDF here.
JAC’s work to help improve judicial diversity
Following the publication of the first combined Diversity Statistical Report last year, the JAC set up a number of new initiatives designed to help speed up the pace of change including the launch of a new Targeted Outreach pilot programme led by former Commissioners who identify and work with eligible potential candidates from under-represented target groups. Earlier this month the JAC also announced an independent review of the approach to statutory consultation, a part of our selection process that is required by law, to make sure it is operating in line with best practice.
You can find out more about the JAC’s work to attract and better prepare potential candidates from under-represented groups for judicial appointments and ensure selection processes are fair and non-discriminatory in our most recent diversity update.
Lord Ajay Kakkar, Chairman of the JAC and Chair of the JDF appeared alongside Sarah Lee, solicitor Commissioner at the JAC, and Richard Jarvis, Chief Executive at the JAC recently and gave evidence to the The House of Commons Justice Committee about the JAC’s work on Judicial Diversity. You can read the transcript here.